IllustrationWHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR, IT WINLL NOT ACCELERATE NO HIGHER THEN 40-50 MPH. IT WOULD JERK OR FEEL LIKE IT WAS POPPING OR ABOUT TO STALL. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO NO GEARS.*AK
2002 Dodge Intrepid
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge Intrepid do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 377.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Intrepid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
3925–50K
6850–75K
6575–100K
54100–150K
10150K+
260 reports with mileage · 69 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 207 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
329 reportsTHE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE RUBBING AGAINST A BOLT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM THE BOLT WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE POWER STEERING UNIT, WHICH WAS O…
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THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE RUBBING AGAINST A BOLT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM THE BOLT WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE POWER STEERING UNIT, WHICH WAS ON A COLLAR TYPE DEVICE, WHICH APPEARED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNIT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE NOT TO GO OVER 5 MPH. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE BRAKE PEDAL STICKS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PULLED UP WITH YOUR FOOT. INITIALLY WE EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT STICKING OF THE PEDAL WHEN DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKES, AS THE PEDAL WAS GOING DOWN. THE PROBL…
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WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE BRAKE PEDAL STICKS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PULLED UP WITH YOUR FOOT. INITIALLY WE EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT STICKING OF THE PEDAL WHEN DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKES, AS THE PEDAL WAS GOING DOWN. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE BUT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURERS DEALER SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY GET WORSE BUT THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR HAS GIVEN UP ON RESOLVING THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET RESPONDED TO OUR MESSAGES. *AK
RACK & PINION FAILED. REPORTED TO DEALER MORE THAN ONCE AFTER INITIAL CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 39,000 MILES ON THE CAR. CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID SINCE WARRENTY HAD EXPIRED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. NEW RACK AND PINION INSTALLED BY LOCAL WORKSHOP.*AK
MY 2002 INTREPID STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY LESS THAN A YEAR FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON...LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE, H…
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MY 2002 INTREPID STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY LESS THAN A YEAR FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON...LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE, HOWEVER, THE OIL WAS CHANGED AS SCHEDULED. THE ESTIMATED BILL WAS $5,000. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS WEBSITES DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES, WITH CONSUMERS TELLING THE EXACT SAME STORY THAT I HAD. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE IN THE INTREPID AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO COMMENTED WERE ACCUSED OF NON MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SLUDGE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO TAKE THE BLAME. I AM STILL LOOKING INTO WHETHER OR NOT MY VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER THE LEMON LAW, IT HAS LESS THAN 18,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASE AND HAS BEEN 1 YEAR SINCE PURCHASE. *LA
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
BOUGHT CAR , DRIVER SIDE HAS ALL PROBLEMS THUMPING IN WHEEL, LEAKING WATER IN CAR WHEN RAIN , DOOR , WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSE,
STEERING MAKES CLUNKING SOUNDS AND TENDS TO BE VERY "SWISHY" WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND COMPLAINED, BOTH TIMES THEY STATED THE STEERING WAS WITHIN SPECS EVEN THOUGH MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAD FOUND PROBLEMS. *LA
CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR RECALL 03V035000 REPAIRS CONCERNING SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT. DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD TAKE A HALF HOUR. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR TWO HOURS AND THE DEALER MECHANIC DIDN'T LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
103V035000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Feb 5, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE03010 · Throttle Control Failure
Opened Feb 27, 2003 · Closed Sep 2, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:cables
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.